What is Blood if Not For Shedding? is an artist book project exploring the danger queer expression poses to conservative American ideology through a fabricated, satirical slasher film, in which a 'killer queen' stalks and murders a typical, all-American 80s teen. Alongside the imagery, text collected from the dregs of X/Twitter runs uninterrupted, all conservative opinions on the subject of queer art, drag, and transgender expression.
Part photobook, part found text, part graphic novel, and part film still, the book project was funded through a research grant from Tufts University and completed under the mentorship of Chantal Zakari.
Award for Critical Design at 2024 SMFA Graphic Arts Annual
Print-on-demand publication, 128 pages, A4, Hardcover. Email joy.bedford7.5@gmail.com for purchase.
Front Cover
Back Cover
Pages 14 & 15
Pages 40 & 41
Pages 46 & 47
Pages 50 & 51
Pages 66 & 67
Pages 90 & 91
Pages 122 & 123
As part of the grant stipulations, I presented my research multiple times, in both presentation and poster form.
A Timeline of the Slasher sub-genre
My Personal Slasher List for the Project
Project Poster
